Author: Chris Baynham-Hughes

Some events really grip you and have you returning every year. Marmot Dark Mountains is one of those. Max and I have been competing as a pair for several years now but this year I reluctantly gave up my place due to a stress fracture to my shin that needed to heal. Having successfully returned to running ½ a month earlier than expected and my replacement suffering with a similar condition, I was able to step back in and we were able to continue our MDM streak. Having been out for so long it was just fantastic to be out again in the hills with Max; we work really well together, never argue and rarely get grumpy despite the duration of these events… when we do get grumpy the other person fills them with sugar or insists they put on another layer, depending upon the source of the grump. Knowing your partner in these events in crucial… especially in an area like the Forest of Bowland where the tussocks are man eaters and the bogs and grips will have you up to your neck.

This year due to my return we changed to the short score class, a mere 8 hours long – the logic being that if there were any problems we could return to base or just walk our way around instead and temper our ambition. I certainly didn’t want to go back to square one with my shin. The last minute change meant we started last. Initial annoyance at this soon parted to delight as we realised we could turn up, register having eaten enough fish and chips to put ourselves in a food coma, and then go for a few hours sleep in the van. Thus we started with at least 2 hours sleep in the tank which was a huge luxury.

Feeling the pace on the initial run out it still took us 30 minutes to reach the terrain we were going to face for the evening. Difficult was a huge understatement. Tussocks, heather, bogs, random holes… you name it, it’s there! Our route took in three controls before heading East and, in hindsight, gave us the most practical view of how to run the terrain. In many of these events, the straight line is picked, but here we needed to be smart about using paths which were longer, but an order of magnitude quicker. One particular crossing stuck in my mind. Having crossed through into a complex area with defined fences and crossings we found ourselves shimmying across a well weathered board, holding onto a fence for hand holds to cross around 5 metres of a bog that probably would have been neck deep… thankfully after that there was a trod that was really quick and took us down to a manned check point.

An event should be judged on the civility as well as the challenge, so being offered a shot of port at this check point by a very good friend of ours certainly ticked that box. It provided a warmth to our spirits and our bodies as we proceeded to hoover up points and be smart about leaving other points on the course as they would have eaten up huge amounts of time for little reward. We picked up a tale at this point and were followed for 3 check points. In a night event this is a hazard as your torches give you away. It’s really frustrating to be doing all the Nav. The clag came in and we made an error at one check point having headed off too far to the right to hit the check point. We realised this relatively quickly and lost probably 10-15 minutes overall, so not a huge problem. This error allowed us to confirm our tail though as they immediately turned around after asking us if we’d found the control. If they had continued looking for it then fair enough, but they literally followed us and pretended to adjust kit, look at the map, tie shoelaces, etc. Poor form. A little pat on the shoulder and a pointed comment to confirm that we knew what they were doing meant we were able to lose the tail on the next section and get on with finishing up the night.

Coming into our final cluster of controls the weather got considerably worse. Based upon the map we expected pure hell, but were pleasantly surprised to hit the first control very quickly, then the second… three, possibly five to go! Alas the ground between us and the next control was just hellish. Knee to thigh high heather, random holes, tussocks, a serious side wind and the worst rain of the night, low energy and Max was getting dangerously cold due to an old (no longer) water proof. We fought our way around focused on finding shelter so Max could get his primaloft and water proof trousers on. Looking back now I realise that the point where I almost fell down the steep side we were contouring on (the ground gave way due to water and poor foot placement) was the re-entrant we were looking for, but it was far less pronounced than the map suggested. It was worth 25 points. As max put on his gear I re-assessed the map and we decided to keep going. We’d either hit the control or we’d hit the next control. We’d been 20 m too low and I’d simply not looked up.

We nailed the next control, dropped down to bag a 50 pointer and had started back hoping to bag a 20 pointer in the re-entrant between us and the finish. The run out on the road to the course had taken 30 minutes and we had the aim to hit the road with roughly 30 minutes to go to get back. Before we’d even got to the top of the hill we were at T-minus 30 and were clearly going to hit penalty points. Having dropped to pick up 50 points rather than play it safe, our mission now was to get back without losing more than 50…. But since it meant an easy 20 going begging we wanted to make that less than 30. In the end we lost 7. Job done.

All in all it was a fantastic and unexpected return to the hills. Once again, Max and I had worked really well as a team… and once again we’d ended up as the bridesmaid rather than the bride. Having made the 10 minute mistake we’d ended up just under 7 minutes over time and lost 7 points and probably the 20 pointer in the final re-entrant. The weather coming in on us and missing that 25 point control had also knocked points. We scored 463 points and the winning team was 495 – 463 + 7 + 25 equals…. Curses. Of course that’s not a fair reflection of the errors the other teams above us had made and what could have been for them. Whilst there were a number of other places we could have picked up the minutes we’d needed, there is no point in dwelling on what could have been. We‘d had a fantastic night out on the hills and have already entered our next mountain marathon (albeit a mini one – 4 hours long) which is on Sunday in Bethesda if anybody is interested. Come and have a go, it’s a fantastic escape.

Toeing the line with Charlie Sproson (Mountain Run, course designer for Dark Mountains, RAB MM, Marmot 24 and others) to run the Elite OMM course, I felt like it was going to be a pretty special weekend. In my usual blasé style I’d suggested the Elite when Charlie agreed to partner up with me. As usual I figured; “well other people complete it, so we should be able to too”. It’s not an unreasonable assumption, we both completed the Dragon’s Back in 2012, we can both navigate (Charlie better than I!) and have done many a long event. When Charlie dropped into conversation that the distance for the OMM Elite would be 42km as the crow flies each day I was surprised… And a little less gung-ho! Due to the terrain and all other considerations, even the top level courses at Mountain Marathons are never that long, and you never quite go as the crow flies, so this meant it was going to be a pretty serious task to finish.

We had a few beers the night before and chatted with one of the owners of OMM itself which was great. Understanding the people behind the brands and how they view the sport/ the community is always very telling. I was really impressed with Iain’s view on the community and how they as a business are looking to help drive the sport forward. Some interesting announcements to come!

Finally ready after some good honest faffing, we set off and immediately got caught on a poor path. The map itself was a shocker, a 1:25000 shrunk to fit a 1:40000 scale, laminated on one side only. The result was a map with too much detail on it but none of which one could really see; the contours were very faint and it was near impossible to read the spot heights/ count contours. We crashed through what was meant to be a forest path (the forest had been removed) and it was slow going…

Charlie was moving really well and I was struggling to keep up for four reasons; firstly I was slower, secondly I was trying to get to grips with the map and read it on the move, thirdly I was slower, and finally, because I was slower. However, as a pair this didn’t impede us too much; I don’t get demoralised by always being 10 yards behind and if anything it makes me run harder knowing I have to keep up. I hoped that the roles would be reversed later, but at that moment it was good to be moving and good that Charlie wasn’t always waiting around beckoning me, or jogging along side saying; “you can do it!” Slipping into that approach as our default was really good, it meant there were no uncomfortable or crossed words, and it also showed Charlie meant business… the race was on!

Day one was enormous. The ground made it extremely difficult to find a rhythm or get going on. I found this particularly tough as I don’t have anywhere to practice locally on really rough ground. We had miles and miles of tussocks, peat hags, heather, shin stripping bracken and boggy patches coupled with squally showers and silly winds to deal with. When gusting the wind was enough to knock you off your course, the rest of the time it was just a major annoyance.
Wind is my least favoured of the weather conditions; it just grinds you down – all weekend it was relentless and rarely at our backs. At one point we went wrong by about 800m down the Pennine way. Once spotted we worked out where we were and decided to head back up. It was uphill, but it was on the stone slabs of the Pennine way and we had the wind behind us. Over the course of those 10 minutes my morale when through the roof. We were back in the game and running well. The wasted time was forgotten and the spring was back in the step. There were other similar moments over the course of the weekend; the sheer joy of finding a long runnable trod to break up the devastating relentless tussocks.

Charlie was coping well with the rough ground though and was keeping us moving well. The terrible map had dealt us and others a harsh lesson in the woods – we took a fence line rather than the ride and wasted 15-20 minutes getting on it; apart from that though and maybe 5 minutes at the start we’d acquitted ourselves well and came into camp in 9 hours and 39 minutes. By the time we left the barn to pitch the tent it was pitch black and the wind was blowing harder than ever. Tent up, food in, bit of socialising whilst we rehydrated then it was off to bed.

I’d chosen to go light and was just about on the edge of my kit. Sleeping in my bag, down jacket and water proofs. If it had been half a degree warmer then I’d have been perfect, but I still had a good night of sleep and was ready to crack on in the morning.
The night itself had been incredibly windy and the morning continued in that vein. We’d placed 11th on day 1, although technically 10th as Steve Birkinshaw and Adam Perry had lost their dibber after one too many trips on the treacherous tussocks. There was never any doubt that Steve and Adam had completed the course so 11th is how we saw it.

We were just 15 minutes away from 7th though so we knew a good second day could see us in the top ten. Given the competition that would mean we’d had a really good performance. The OMM attracts an international field and a top class field; this year was no exception. Top Estonian Team, Sander Vaher & Timo Sild, Duncan Archer & Jim Mann (5 times LAMM Elite Winners & several times winners of the OMM Elite), Oli Johnson & Neil Northrop, John Ashcroft & Andy Fallas, Steve Birkinshaw & Adam Perry and top mixed team Jasmin Paris & Konrad Rawlik, amongst other very strong runners & teams.

Having noticed Jasmin and Konrad out on the course and seeing them move across the ground we could tell that they were excellent orienteers. We’d slipped back from them through slightly less efficient lines (by this I mean hitting a hill brown 10 metres to the left or right of them – yes, it’s that marginal) and my inability to really get going. Still we started focused and headed out on a shortened course (the organisers had decided that day 1 had been a little too long for all the linear courses).

We lost some time on the first control but started to work well across day two. We knew Tim Laney and Lizzy Wraith were chasing us and that Tim was an outstanding orienteer with a talent for spotting great route choices. After the first control we went direct and rough whilst they went for the longer path. We managed to stay ahead and found ourselves running almost in parallel with Jonathan Wilock (2 Rigby rounds this year!) & Bryan Carr (who in their own words were second day specialists used to taking places on day 2) They had placed 13th on day 1, an hour behind us. Given our relative positions and our distance from the podium we effectively spent the day together, 4 heads deciding on the macro route choice and there was always one of the four of us that would get us going again after a climb. We pushed each other and I’ve no doubt that Charlie and I benefitted from their company and their tenacity.

The wind continued to be horrendous and as we left checkpoint X it wasn’t’ long before we crossed paths with Tim and Lizzy who had taken a completely different line to the control; a line that was a full 25 minutes quicker than ours – top marks Tim! We weren’t far from the finish, just one more big climb and a rough decent through the control to the road. I’m not a huge fan of road, especially not when I’m wearing X-Talons, however it was a welcome relief. It left just a short climb to the final control and a flat track run to the finish and glory!

We missed the chips, but there were a few pies left and we caught the winners being presented with their spoils. Overall I loved it: the partnership with Charlie had been a real success, I’d packed and managed my kit well, had contributed to the navigation and had met some fantastic new friends. Our only issue at the end was that we figured the SI results system had been set up incorrectly as it was showing us in 6th place. Post event we found that it was indeed correct! A couple of people had been knocked out and others we’d simply beaten on the day. Given the line-up we were very happy. Results are here:

There aren’t really any secrets to MMs, Top of the list is navigation, a good line can save you enormous amounts of time, the ability to make quick decisions, to challenge each other in a constructive way and listen to your partner’s suggestions even if it is just to confirm your own thoughts is key. You need to get your kit weight right, work well as a partnership, and only then does it come down to how well you can run. Finally, always be aware that it’s a two day event – too many teams struggle on the second day, so dig in and remember that a minute on the second day is just as long as a minute on the first day!

So it’s the end of the 2014 MM season and I’ve certainly had a blast. I’ve found two new partners that I would happily take to the fells again with. We’ve proved competitive (third in the RAB long score with Matty Brennan and 6th in the OMM Elite with Charlie) and best of all I’ve had a real blast with them. I’ve met loads of new friends and improved my navigation in both skills and confidence.

There is no doubt that, assuming I can get the partners, the MMs will be the first events in my race diary next year. I’ve got a few other pressing scores to settle; UTMB is the main event, but I’m yet to decide whether I try to race it or if I have a blast out there with Tin and treat it as a great adventure. I’m also planning to have a go at the Paddy Buckley, but when I do it will be unsupported. One of the principle things I have to look forward to though is the one race I’m not actually doing; as the Dragon’s Back returns I will be on the crew and can’t wait to facilitate others on what is, in my opinion, the ultimate challenge and event.

I regularly find myself having to explain what a mountain marathon is so I figured there must be loads of people out there missing out on what I see as the best type of event out there. I’m pretty late coming to this sport myself and I’m by no means an expert, but it is hands down my favourite.

Let me know what you think, if I’ve missed anything, if you have any questions, if I have anything wrong, etc.

Note: There is a Glossary at the bottom for terms I reckon may cause confusion. I’ve tried to make them in italics.

So it’s like running a marathon in the mountains right?

Errr, no. Contrary to the title it’s actually a cross between Fell racing, Orienteering and ultra running (in time rather than distance); oh, and there is an overnight camp involved too which you need to be self sufficient for. Confused? Let me try again…

The event has various different formats (described below) but they are essentially a variation on this theme: You have to travel (run, walk, crawl, slide) across open fell land to find controlsand place your dibber in to record that you’ve been there. Another way of looking at it is a long distance Orienteering event held over open fell land.

However you look at it, it is a genuine test of mountain skills.

What are the different formats available?

Duration:

Traditionally a two day affair, event organisers have sought to recreate the same magic in other ways, here are the available options:

Full Mountain Marathon – a two day event, times will vary by course and competence (see below).

Mixed discipline – Cross between Adventure racing and the MM really; e.g., Haglöfs Open5 – 5 hours to do the same thing, but there is a running and a bike course, you split your time how you like

It takes two baby… well, most of the time

The standard format is for mountain marathon’s to be competed in pairs; this is less common on the shortened versions. The pair must stay together and are jointly responsible for kit (although must be carrying enough personal kit to be safe too – see ‘Kit lists’ below). Few mountain marathon’s offer a solo class, most notable are the Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon (SLMM) which now has two solo classes and the RAB (see ‘Events’ below)

Terrain:

It varies, but rough open fell land is the general order of the day. You can be lucky enough to experience bogs, babies head sized tussocks, heather, mud, technical rocky ground, sheep trods, foot paths, bridle paths and even the odd bit of tarmac (but only to link fells together). In short it has everything, just not necessarily all in the same day/ weekend. Some MMs distinguish themselves by having courses with lots of steep and big climbs, so take your pick!

Format:

Linear Courses

As competitors cross the line they are given a map and a control sheet. The control sheethas the grid reference of all the controls they must visit and a description for each one. On a Linear course the boxes must be visited in order. The fastest to visit the boxes in order is the winner. Competitors decide their own route between the boxes.

There are different lengths of course available to accommodate different abilities; this makes the sport very accessible.

Non-Linear Courses

Fixed control courses – I’ve made this name up, but it is where competitors cross the start line and are given a map and a control sheet; they can visit the boxes in any order, but they must visit all of them. The primary example here is the Klets’ solo class at the SLMM. Selecting the most efficient order to collect the controls in is essential to a good placing (as I have found to my peril).

Score Class – Competitors cross the start line and are given a map and a control sheet. Most of the time the map is marked with the box locations, but the control sheet states which ones are open, the control description and how many points each box is worth (between 5 to 40).

Competitors have a set amount of time and can visit the boxes in any order they wish to. Competitors must make it to the finish within the time period allotted or they face a penalty; i.e., for every minute they are late they lose points. If you’re half an hour late then you lose everything. So you’ve just trashed yourself for a day out on the fells and have nothing to show for it. It happens to the best out there too, it’s not just an amateur’s mistake!

In general there are two types of Score Class: long and short. Long tends to be 7 hours for day one and 6 hours for day two with the short score being an hour less each day.

Other considerations:

The different formats bring different challenges. Linear courses ensure that everybody irrespective of experience knows exactly where they should go next, it takes out a lot of the tactical thought and it is more about covering the distance quickest. On a clear day though it can lead to long snakes of people heading to the next check point and the necessity for sharp navigation is removed. This is a big shame as that is a key part of the test.

The Score class is deliciously tactical and top competitors are capable of assessing the location of the boxes, the quickest line and how much they can run within the time limit over the ground presented to them. Equally at the other end you have people walking so they are also very inclusive as people compete at all ages from 14 – 80+. The other bonus on a score class is everybody is running in different directions, so there are fewer ‘snakes’ appearing to lead you to the boxes. The Score class also has the jeopardy of the clock and the prospect of losing all the points you toiled for.

Camping:

All full length MM formats involve and overnight camp. At the end of each day competitors head to Download to and get a print out of their day. It not only shows the timings and each control visited, but it also allows the organisers to know people are off the course and to give the competitive standings at the end of each day. Competitors then pitch up for the night, refuel, recover, chill out and socialise (if the midges allow!) This of course means that competitors must carry all their kit to camp; this is also true for the one night format (Dark Mountains), but not the mini mountain marathons.

Some MMs provide an option to purchase beers and milk for the overnight camp – I think this says a lot for the relaxed atmosphere of the events as well as a nod to the fell running culture. How do you tell the fell runners from the Orienteers? The fell runners are drinking beer and the Orienteers are complaining that the control point was two metres out of position. Oh yes, that’s a MM geek’s joke right there!

Food and drink:

Competitors must carry in all their food for the event and carry out all their litter afterwards. With the exception of beer cans and milk cartons bought for the overnight camp. Sadly this means people try to stash their litter in squashed cans, but thankfully the majority don’t.

Naturally it’s up to you what you have for overnight, but food is also a major weight consideration. I heard a story of a very experienced pair who got together and in pre-event discussions one had been assigned the food duties whilst the other was sorting tent, etc. during the event a packet of crisps was passed over along with the advice of “make ‘em last”. Whilst amusing, personally this doesn’t make much sense to me as food is so key to recover for the second day, but people do come up with some ingenious solutions for these events.

Water is collected en route from streams and at the overnight camp there is a water bowser, tap or stream. Overnight camps generally have a stream nearby for washing too.

Atmosphere:

Ohh what an at-mos-phere, I love a party with a happy … Ahem.. Sorry. The Atmosphere at these events is very relaxed and inclusive. I’ve recently heard people say, “oh, maybe in a few years I could think about trying one of those” but this is so far from reality. My advice would be to give it a go, pick an entry level course – in general there are guide times e.g.,(SLMM http://www.slmm.org.uk/courses/ )but if not have a look at the winners times and the average times for each course to give you an idea of how long you’ll be on your feet; or pick a score class when you can call time out whenever you feel like it.

People are very friendly, it’s done in pairs so it is a pretty safe event and if you do get into trouble others will stop and help you even if it means sacrificing their own race standings – as I said above, it’s a test of all your mountain skills!

Again, as mentioned above, there are usually beers on offer before and even during the event and people from all ages and experiences take part. Naturally at least one of you needs to know their way around a map and compass, but if you don’t see the ‘how do I train?’ section below.

The general feeling of the events is very much like that of a fell race or Orienteering event. It’s inclusive and a bunch of likeminded people – show respect for the mountains, the environment and your fellow competitors and you’ll fit right in. Just in case you’re wondering what that means – don’t litter (you carried it in you carry it out), respect the uncrossable boundaries (marked on the map), don’t climb dry stone walls and fences. In short, leave no trace.

How do I train?

If you can’t navigate or are not confident then I thoroughly recommend you go on a course. There are a number about, the FRA run some from time to time, but the two providers I’d recommend outright are:

Nav4 is run by Joe Faulkner, recently described on Facebook as “The Gandalf of the Mountains” and has forgotten more about practical running navigation than I will ever know. His event CV is more than impressive with success in both adventure racing and long distance fell/ ultra scenes. He organises several ultras and has completed the toughest events out there including both the 1992 and 2012 Dragon’s Back races. Kudos. He’s laid back, clear and is an excellent coach.

Mountain Run is run by Charlie Sproson. I met Charlie on the Dragon’s Back in 2012 and he too is laid back, clear and an excellent coach. He has designed courses for the SLMM, Dark Mountains and this year’s RAB MM which was outstanding and he will certainly give you an insight into the (evil) mind of a course designer.

Be aware that the MM format will test both your micro and macro navigation. At the more advanced level it will test the accuracy any estimates you make as to how much distance you can cover based upon the terrain presented on the map. MMs generally don’t announce their location until a few weeks before the event so you can’t go and practice.

As you would expect, you can hone your micro navigation at your local orienteering club, your fell running skills by getting out there or doing races and mountain based ultras are also a good training ground (not so much the ones that go around the fells on bridle paths; e.g., UTLD, as it just isn’t the sort of terrain you’ll be covering).

Flipping this question on it’s head, mountain marathons are excellent preparation for events like the Dragon’s Back (not 100% sure on this, but I don’t think anybody who had a pure trail running background actually finished in 2012).

What Kit do I need?

Kit lists vary from event to event and also by the conditions on the day sometimes, but one of my favourite things about MMs is the ingenious ways people come up with to be within the letter of the law, but as light as possible. The Balloon bed is sadly a lesser spotted item these days, but it has to be up there with the best solutions ever; not least because of the comedy it provides when the odd rogue balloon bursts in the night.

Getting your kit right is essential. Both bulk and weight are critical considerations and your kit will get honed over time, however this shouldn’t be seen as a barrier to the event. My advice would be enter, beg/ borrow/ steal kit then once you realise it’s the event for you then you can start on the delightful journey to kit nirvana.

A friend of mine managed to get his kit for the LAMM down to just 3.4kg including 0.5 ltr of water and all his food (0.5kg). This is beyond obsessive and I salute him for it! My kit is down to less than 5kg as a solo competitor (primarily as I take loads of food) and for the RAB which I did as a pair I managed to get my kit into a Slab 12 race vest (although this did arose suspicion and a kit check at the end – passed of course). Every gram counts and it’s a great money pit.

I’ll do a secondary posting on kit, but my final word on it would be that all sorts of weird items become essential; e.g., 2 plastic bags big enough to fit your feet in. Why? Well, your shoes are guaranteed to be soaking at the end of day one, so if you’ve gone with the luxury of a fresh pair of socks then at the overnight camp you will be happy you have bags to put your feet in before they go in your shoes and it will ensure those sock stay dry at least until the next morning.

I’m sold, where can I find these great events?

Without a doubt the most challenging and ultimately rewarding event I’ve taken part in isDark Mountains (http://www.marmot-dark-mountains.com/ – you may even spot me on the website J) however I would not recommend this for beginners. There is a score format which does make it accessible, but only if you have solid mountain skills and can make a good decision; i.e., to call time on it when you are starting to deteriorate. Last year I did the A course (second from top) with Braddan Johnson and it took 15.5 hours – we battled through extreme winds, rain, sleet, hail, snow (blizzard and whiteout) almost got into our bothy at one point, but finished in everything we had out there (my top layer was 2* long sleeve super warm tops, Montane Fireball smock and a Paramo adventure light smock) we also mis-punched on the last control so we didn’t even get a finish! Despite this I rank it as the best single day event (MM and non-MM) I’ve taken part in.

SLMM – http://www.slmm.org.uk/ This is the first one I did and I’d recommend it to anybody. Super friendly, great time of year for weather and the courses (as per the link above) have something for everyone. I also love it as I can compete as a solo as this way my Nav indiscretions only affect me!

RAB MM – http://www.rabmountainmarathon.com/ I have a rapidly growing love for the Score format and this event is run to perfection. The course this year (designed by Charlie at Mountain Run) was terrific with starkly different terrains on the different days. Great atmosphere and highly recommended for both beginners and experienced alike.

LAMM – http://www.lamm.co.uk/index.html Very much want to try this one out. Self dubbed ‘The connoisseur’s Mountain Marathon it has a history of steep and big mountains, but it’s remote Scottish location means that it really means Friday and Monday off for those of us further afield.

The Highlander – http://www.handsonevents.co.uk/?page_id=13 Featuring a Ceilidh at halfway it kinda sets itself up for a sociable event! It’s in Scotland surprisingly enough and takes place at the end of April. Again, it’s one I’m keen to have a go at.

The OMM – http://www.theomm.com/events/OMM_Original/ The Original Mountain Marathon (OMM) (formerly the KIMM – Karrimor International MM ) has had a bit of bad press within the community of late, and the weather at the end of October rarely helps things. I will however report back after doing it myself this year!

Haglöfs Open5 Series – http://www.openadventure.com/open5/ These are a combination with mountain biking. A fantastic format and one I will certainly look to try out next year.

Summary:

You don’t need to be an expert or have all the best kit. You just need a sense of adventure and basic understanding of a how to use a map and compass.

Glossary:

Control Description –What I refer to as the cryptic clue, it states where the box is, examples include ‘Crag foot’, ‘Stream junction’, and the dreaded ‘Re-entrant’ (often the most ambiguous of the lot). Once you understand all the terms it’s pretty simple really, and really quite helpful (not how I felt about them on my first MM!)

Controls – These are also known as “dibber boxes” essentially it’s an electronic box which you place an electronic “dibber” in, it beeps to let you know it has recorded you being there.

Dibber – An electronic key which are commonly used for timing in events such as ultras and are regularly used in Orienteering competitions. They are the modern day equivalent of a control punch (used to punch a specific set of holes in your orienteering card to show you’ve been to the location)

Download – Dibber is placed in a dibber box to download all the information from it – showing which controls people have been to.

Open Fell Land – Uncultivated high ground where there may be no path, a sheep trod, footpath or even a bridleway running through it. Still not sure, look at the Bob Graham route or even better, go out to a Fell race details of when and where are here:http://fellrunner.org.uk/races.php

A recent post by Neil Bryant on Facebook started me thinking, so if you get to the end of this blog post feeling like it’s time you’ll never get back then please take it up with Neil :). His post was brimming with positive energy, enthused by the possibilities opened by his choice to move to the adventure playground that is Chamonix. I guess putting so much on the line for a lifestyle change ensures Neil sees the value in everything around him – the post had a childlike joy of discovery about it, and having been fortunate enough to run out in Chamonix this winter it prompted me to ask whether the snow had melted; had that visible, tangible change had occurred?

All this got me thinking about the running we do. Rather than generalising, I’ll speak from my own experience. During the week I tend to be a creature of habit to a degree. I’m fortunate enough to have woodland trails nearby and as I run in the morning I do get three very distinct changes in the year: the runs in the light, those in the dark, and those where you get to witness the change between the two. My trails are also changed by the seasons, although not as starkly as Neil’s between snow and summer, but still, the flora changes subtly, the sounds and the conditions underfoot oscillate, etc.

These changes are what ensure that my run never seems to feel stale. I frequently read advice stating I should run my trail in reverse, seek other trails, introduce new locations, keep it fresh, run on my hands whilst juggling a small kitten, etc. but I don’t get it. I don’t need these changes, I love the intimacy I have with the trail I run plus spotting the changes and cultivating that childlike mind (not just switching off, putting the blinkers on and getting bored: “I’ve seen it all before”, “Can’t be anything new”) is something I really value. I also think that as humans we like/ crave that stability, that habit.

The value and pleasure of understanding how your trails change and the huge change that can have on your awareness is pretty priceless and I encourage all to work on/ enjoy it.

Another frequently stated/ debated element of running (and many other sports I enjoy) is the empty arguments about which type is best: Road Vs Offroad, fell Vs trail, etc. Nothing turns me off more than reading/ having somebody argue why one is better for you/ more fulfilling/ original/ greater challenge, etc. I confess that this doesn’t preclude me from enjoying the banter generated from time to time; e.g., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuBw39uCT4Q

The most ridiculous think is that it tends to be somebody preaching to the converted. As an example of this I picked up Boff Whalley’s ‘Run wild’, looking forward to reading tales of what he gets from being out there and odes to the mountains I love so much – the musings of a kindred spirit. What I got was repetitive droning about why running on roads was a substandard form… why does he care? How many road runners will read the book and be converted? I’ve never understood why people can’t just enjoy what they enjoy and let others enjoy what they enjoy… surely we’d all be happier?

As our world becomes more complex and information rich we look to collectives, mental boxes we can put things in and other methods to enable us to process and keep up. The question on my mind was what this tells us about us? Can we characterise people by the type of running they do? Are the stereotypes true/ fair reflections of the collective? I think there is enough in it for the personality/ characteristics of our favourite trails/ running types to be used as a mirror. Greek Philosophy counsels us to ‘Know thy self’. Running provides countless ways for us to do that.

My proposal is that what you seek when you lace up your trainers reflects who you are. You may live for exploring new trails or busting out a PB, reaching that summit , spreading your arms wide like wings at the top of a descent, racing, taking in views, enjoying the journey, facing up to the challenge, the list goes on!

Exploring a trail for the first time can be liberating and frustrating at the same time – the stop/ start of not knowing which path to take or the roll of some delicious, challenging single track. Over time it develops into a personal playground. Knowing each trail’s quirks and kings, inclines and exposed roots makes them feel like old friends. Driven by repetition and your passion, your running becomes a vehicle to understand the trail’s personality and how it is carved, influences and created by nature.

The events and runs we take on can challenge us and at extremes can put our safety into question. But these are often escapes from the stresses and strains of modern life, from our responsibilities in work, as a parent, or a way to work through feelings like grief or anything where we need time to switch off or focus on your thoughts.

I challenge you to take a look at your running over the years, how it has fitted into your life and what that has meant. Running can be a great release, sport or challenge, but it can also deepen and reveal the best qualities you have as a person. The type of running we do and the trails we run/ really love have a subconscious calling; they are a mirror to the soul if only we are prepared to look and listen.

Risk, perception of risk and calculation of risk is a fascinating beast. The idiosyncratic element is so large it’s almost a social science in itself!

A recent disagreement on a facebook post got me thinking about this topic; whilst a stolen run in the Langdale Pikes pushed me to write about it. As I ran, alone, light fading, snow underfoot, rain coming in, visibility poor, wind picking up, in shorts, carrying a small belt kit I figured some people would think me reckless, some fool hardy or irresponsible, others may see it as calculated, assessed and reasonable – although these views would probably require greater insight into my preparations.

In this case I’d told my wife where I was going, how I would get there, after how long she should start to look for my head torch on the mountain, at what point to raise her concern/ look harder and how long before she should raise the alarm. I’d also packed a map, compass, survival bag, knew the area, was never more than two miles from a road, had full body cover, an exceptionally bright head torch and I’m reasonably experienced and competent in the mountains… well I’d at least argue I know how and when to use my kit and the limitations of the kit.

Still, for some (my parents at least) I suspect that I’m not taking sufficient precaution (sorry mum and dad) but herein lies the issue at hand. Why are perceptions of risk so different and why is it important to make a proper assessment and to recognise/ question the reasons behind the different choices we make as a result?

There are many factors that influence a calculation of risk, the primary ones I’d note are:

Likelihood of occurrence

Impact/ severity

Risk appetite (whether the individual is a risk lover or are risk adverse)

Models/ Experience

Mitigation – strategies to avoid the risk becoming an issue* or to deal with it if it does

*a risk is something that might happen; an issue is something that has happened.

Factors 1 and 2 combine to give a calculation of risk, 3 and 4 are social (idiosyncratic) factors that will impact perception of 1 and 2, ultimately leading to an appropriate decision for that individual to satisfy their risk profile and feel comfortable that they have made an educated and calculated decision.

Likelihood

My argument would be that many never actually critically think about the likelihood/ severity in enough depth and jump straight to risk profile (lover/ adverse). A quick search of forums/ FB kit list posts highlights this immediately and where this post started to germinate from. I’ve lost count of the “but what if…” “bogie man” style statements, typically presented as a black and white with no room for a shade of grey let alone fifty! It’s not a phenomenon restricted to ultra/ fell running forums, indeed I would argue it is an extension of the same arguments that have parents afraid to let their children out to play through a fear of the “paedophile lurking on every corner!” It’s not that the risk isn’t there, it’s just that the likelihood is significantly lower than certain newspapers would have us believe – the baby gets thrown out with the bath water as a result. This is low quality thinking.

To be as clear as I can be, the following examples and text are not intended to have a pop at any race organisers. I believe they are being placed in an increasingly difficult position in making these judgement calls. I always carry full mandated kit and don’t complain whether I believe it should or should be mandated (although I have sought clarification and when it wasn’t provided in a meaningful way I have complained there was a lack of clarity; e.g., if a race is going to put ‘emergency food’ on then it needs to quantify it by weight or calories… I digress).

Like I say, being an RD is not easy, especially given the decisions runners make; e.g., I turned up at a race with micro-spikes and ski goggles due to the freak conditions and snow fall; I lined up on a heavily altered course (for safety – which was bemoaned my many) next to people in barefoot style trail shoes with zero grip suitable for a summer run in very dry conditions. I wore the goggles almost all day and used my micro-spikes on ~35% of the course. Finishing I was asked if I’d done one or two laps as most had dropped or been pulled after one – considering the amount of moaning at the RD’s decision to adjust the course I think the decision was vindicated and a good called made. The point is that the RD shouldn’t have to make what was clearly a common sense call and it shows just how many people put blind faith in an event “it must be safe because they are letting us go out”. I digress. Essentially I totally respect an RDs decision and treat a kit list as a minimum. I may take thinks that border on acceptability, but take them I do.

Naturally this doesn’t stop me having an opinion about kit lists in general, however my guiding principle is that a good kit list has a mandatory and a recommended element. For me, everything on the mandated list should be a risk mitigation. It shouldn’t reflect personal preference or requirements, but be targeted at a specific risk.

The Facebook question was related to the use of pain killers and anti inflammatory pills (NSAIDs). This is a topic in itself and not one I’m looking to debate; suffice to say I’ve read plenty of statements warning against usage due to potential kidney damage. I’ve used them personally on one event, but they didn’t make any real difference for me so I personally wouldn’t take them again. My stance is if I’m in such a state where I’m reaching for the pain killers then it’s time to drop out, but I digress again.

What I did find quite shocking was that a couple of events now had painkillers on their mandatory kit lists. In an age where you can’t get a paracetamol at work/ school due to fears over liability for dispensing such pharmaceuticals, I find it astonishing that a race would mandate carrying the drugs, especially an amount that, taken in one go, would be harmful. The argument was that an experienced doctor had advised this addition to the kit list and nobody would force a competitor to take the pills, but for me this is a tacit stamp of approval/ encouragement that it is not only ok, but it’s expected and encouraged – I am certain that is not what the RD intended, but I’ve lined up at too many races to mention where inexperienced participants are heavily influenced by the kit list, thus I think this is a very dangerous addition.

Aside from all that, I’d question the logic; i.e., what is the risk that is being mitigated here? In this case it seems to me it only creates risk 0 if a situation arose where somebody needed pain killers it would be due to an injury (twist, fall, sprain, etc.) Painkillers are then about comfort for the individual (cue wagging forum finger along the lines of, “well, if you strayed from the course and broke your leg then you’ll be grateful for the extra clothing and painkillers!” – this is taken almost verbatim from a post on the Fb L100 forum) your life is not going to be saved by a paracetamol or Ibuprofen. – but your internal organs could be damaged and you could put yourself at risk by taking too many through a one-eyed determination to finish coupled with an exhausted, sleep deprived, befuddled thought process. Pretty high likelihood of that state for participants of hundred mile or a non-stop multi day ultra I’d wager!

So getting to likelihood, we must first assess the chances of something happening, this is skewed by experience either direct or indirect (I’ll come back to this) – in the case of the L100 post I’d say it was pretty unlikely and thus not requiring me to carry extra anything as presented by the poster, but wait! Likelihood is only one piece of the risk puzzle. The impact is crucial in deciding on the mitigation strategy, so let’s look at that as perceived, or even evidenced, likelihood is useless without impact.

Impact

If the impact is great; i.e., risk to life and/ or future quality of life, then a mitigation strategy should be in place or acceptance of the risk made; e.g., the impact of running off a cliff is high, even if the likelihood is low, but what is my mitigation? Improve my map reading? Don’t sprint in the clag/ dark? Pack a parachute? In reality it’s something I just have to accept, whereas taking a mobile phone with 112 set up (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPZv_8dABfU) may be the mitigation strategy for incapacitation on the mountain.

Jumping back to the broken leg on the L100 post, whilst the impact might be high, my assessment goes something like this:

(b) There are a huge number of people coming through who can raise the alarm

(c) You are tracked between ~8 mile stretches (CPs) so the organisers know roughly where you are

(d) Most sections you can pretty much drive a land rover to

(e) You’re never far from a road or obvious landmark so if your nav really is that bad then you’ll hit one of these soon or should be able to see one to help with your location

So what is the mitigation in the kit list? Well the poster was pointing to extra warm layers and a first aid kit. My assessment? Well stipulate a phone with 112 set up – a ‘First aid kit to include: blister plasters* / sterile pad dressing / bandage or tape to secure dressing as a minimum requirement’ is, frankly, going to do bugger all to your broken leg anyway. A real, useful, make a difference in an emergency, first aid kit will weigh between 5 and 9kgs and would never be stipulated on a run – much like the fact you could twist your ankle on a kerb or get knocked down crossing the road in town, one cannot account for every possibility.

* when was this ever an emergency?

In this area I feel many RDs lack courage/ fear the backlash of an uneducated back lash of “how irresponsible!” if they don’t have a first aid kit on their list, rather than a practical, considered approach to not mandate it (notable exceptions include NAV4 events which makes it’s kit list decision based upon first class, firsthand experience). At this point it’s clear I’ve drifted into mitigation and whether the mitigation is effective; getting back to the point, if the risk is a small cut to the finger or a blister and the mitigation is about comfort rather than safety then IMO the items should be on an optional list rather than a mandatory one. Again, looking at the first aid kit a more serious wound can be dealt with through construction of a tourniquet using clothing if required. So far we have likelihood (crystal ball) and impact (not so much worst case, although it should be considered and balanced with a likelihood of it going wrong, but realistic case scenarios.

Mitigation

For me it’s really clear. Every race risk which has a severe impact should be mitigated or accepted due to low likelihood/ impracticality of mitigation. Rapid core temperature loss due to rain and wind leading to hypothermia can be mitigated by waterproofs. Nobody is saying that you can sit down in a blizzard as if you are in San Tropez providing you have a “minimus suit” on, but waterproofs make a significant and genuine difference and enough to get an individual to safety.

Another fine example of excellent, well thought out mandated kit was the addition of a bothy bag on Dark Mountains. Some may say; “but you’re carrying a tent!” they would be right, but if you’ve got so cold that you need to pitch your tent or a weather front has come in so quickly as it did on us, then being able to jump in a bothy, make a considered decision, warm up and then pitch the tent, wait it out, etc. is a superb mitigation and is far more likely to be used – I know we talked about it at one point! Others include a survival bag not a blanket, map and compass, not GPS alone, etc.

Items that do not meet this criteria should not be on a mandatory kit list in my view – recommended kit, yeah, but not mandated – some people are happy to risk a DNF if the situation gets more hairy than the mandatory list. The notable exception to this is what I call “levelling kit”; e.g., a mountain marathon list includes a stove – hot food is not a requirement to survive, so a stove is arguably outside of the justification for the mandatory list (if you ignore the ability to provide a warm beverage in a hypothermia situation – one reason why I suspect it is on there) however it keeps the playing field a little more level.

So far, logic enables us to assess and draw a strategy together for risk, but two very vital elements are missing – appetite for risk and models/ experience. These have a huge influence upon our perceived likelihood and potential impact.

Appetite for risk – risk adverse or risk lover?

One’s tolerance for risk will have an influence on one’s assessment of likelihood and impact which one should be very mindful of – maybe even ask the question; “Have I really got that risk assessment right? Am I being a little too gung ho?” however the major influencing factor it has is over one’s mitigation strategy. A risk lover will be far more comfortable with less kit, it doesn’t mean they wont take enough to be safe, just that they will view the requirement differently to a person that is risk adverse.

The “yeah, but what if” people amongst us may take items to ensure they get to the end at all costs whereas a risk lover may simply say, “well if that happens I’ll just have to drop out & DNF as I believe the chances of it happening are so low compared with the burden of the mitigation strategy”. So risk lovers will tend to mark likelihood lower and be pragmatic (sometimes overly so) about kit. In a sport like ultra running which can see a start line flooded with machismo, this can lead to events being cancelled due to poor decisions; e.g., the 2012 Fellsman was cancelled part way through for the first time in 50 years due to the sheer volume of hypothermia cases. IMO this was about a lack of experience and poor decision making; both in the kit taken and, more importantly when people put it on. “Runners” making “runners decisions” in the mountains is a poor choice; i.e., “I’ll put my jacket on at the next CP” rather than stopping for 2 minutes to stay safe – I’m no martyr, I’ve done this myself several times!

Experience/ Models

These greatly influence our lives in all facets and influence the view of likelihood and impact significantly. As an abstract example, I have a great idea for a business, whilst I know abit about running a business and in the past have been paid to advise organisations as to how they should do it, I see the risk of setting up my own business as way too great – the potential pitfalls and risks outweigh the reward for me. A major influencer on this assessment is down to the fact that I don’t know anybody that has built a business from scratch – I have no first, second or third hand experience of this. Thus all I see is a question mark as to how I pay the mortgage, let alone finance the company.

The same applies to an assessment for the mountains. Once you’ve experienced or witnessed a case of hypothermia it’s harder to believe it can’t happen to you. Is it just a big “bogie man” that only happens to others? Ever badly twisted an ankle and had to get off a mountain alone? All this has a major impact and is generally positive; i.e., results in a more realistic risk assessment.

It must be noted that none of the mitigation strategies are a substitute for experience or knowledge. The best equipped bag in the world is no good if you don’t know how or when to use what is in it. Likewise avoidance of an issue by not taking silly risks is a far greater strategy. This doesn’t mean being over cautious, nor does it mean doing something because you got away with it last time. Regular and realistic in flight assessments should be part of any run in the mountains. My recent run up to Harrison Stickle was a good example of how I personally do that. I looked for signs of successful paths in the snow, regularly checked the crust and if my weight was held before proceeding, I kne my escape routes, slowed down, kept a keen eye on my Nav and ditched the idea of taking in Pike O’ Stickle in favour of getting part way down without the need for my head torch (although I had it on in case I fell and knocked myself out). I knew I was on a well used path and ensured I stuck to it; more importantly I ensured I was warm as toast – overdressing and paying in sweat rather than under dressing and pushing it to keep warm. I also regularly reminded myself that I was on my own.

Was it as much fun as really pushing it? Well as a dedicated sensation seeker I’d say yes, I was forced to concentrate at all times, I got to contemplate my own mortality and it got dark so I got to use some kit

So what, all very interesting but what do I want you to think about/ take away from this ramble? I’d sum it up as follows:

Always respect an RD’s kit list and risk assessment

It is my firm view that RDs should remember that newbies are greatly influenced by a kit list; put pain killers on there and they may very well think it’s de rigueur – don’t be afraid to put items on the suggested/ recommended list instead , think carefully about what should be mandatory; i.e., if it isn’t mitigating a serious risk with a high impact or a leveller.. if not, suggested list

You can’t absolve all responsibility to the RD, do your own personal risk assessment before the race – mandatory kit list is the minimum, the less experience you have the more you should pack!

Continue to assess risk throughout your run, especially if solo – take mitigating actions both before (tell somebody your route) and during your run (slowing down, is that potential ankle breaking leap worth it? etc.

Kit is no substitute for experience – knowing how and when to use it so search out a course, go on that “crazy” group run in terrible conditions – I’d recommend the FRA run courses, NAV4 (http://www.nav4.co.uk/) and Mountain Run (http://www.mountainrun.co.uk/)

All this talk of risk comes at a time where a race has been found guilty of the deaths of three trail runners. It’s a terrifically tragic case and one nobody ever wants to see or hear about. The only details I have are here and my comment may as a result be deeply misinformed as I am solely going on this.

Ultimately when we take to the mountains for such races we take a risk and a personal responsibility for that risk. The idea that we as participants can absolve all responsibility for our actions is ludicrous. Ok, seeing the weather being a bit iffy could prompt the RD to mandate a bothy bag for all runners, but they can’t account for the actions of the runners to come off the way marked trail. Likewise no matter what is signed before a race, the organisers/planners can still be guilty of gross negligence.

I’ve had a chat with my wife about this very subject and how I wouldn’t want any actions to be taken or any impact as a result of my death if it were to happen. There are times when blame shouldn’t be searched for and it should just be accepted as a tragic accident. I would hate to think that my actions could put limits on the sport I love so much or the freedom that comes with that sport.

The key IMO is to increase the skill levels and knowledge of the participants in these races, I see the governing bodies; FRA, TRA, etc. having a strong hand and influence in this – more cheap/ not for profit navigation courses put on, raising awareness of hypothermia and other issues that pose a great risk to the runner; maybe even a licence system that enables people to run the longer or more challenging races (e.g., AL fell races).

The licence could simply consist of a number of courses and a test of knowledge, phased in over a 3 year period and with an abundance of courses run by local running clubs involved in the fells should make this a relatively painless exercise. It could also strengthen the already strong community. Sure people will grumble, but better than races being cancelled due to organisers not being able to take on the liability.

Numb to the risk?

The final word I wanted to give on risk is that it is calculated but ultimately it is so difficult without a crystal ball that we are forced to subconsciously take risks daily and become numb to them. The key here is that it is the perception of risks that we are ultimately dealing with 0 statistically you are significantly more likely to die or be seriously injured on a standard daily activity; e.g., riving a car, than you are on the mountains. It is out lack of familiarity (and of those around us) with the setting which leads to gross over/ under estimation – much like too much exposure (driving a car) without a reminder (road death/ accident/ near miss).

In short, get trained/ gain experience slowly rather than jumping in at the deep-end without a good mentor. Learn to calculate the risks you are taking and consider them before, during and after (review) make your own decisions to match your comfort level and have fun out there!

As a dedicated gear fiend I have managed to find more essential gear that I can’t live without. One looks set to become an expensive addiction, the other fills an excellent gap in my arsenal.

Paramo Valez Adventure Light Smock

Not a name that will ever roll off the tongue, I was put onto the Valez after booking what is expected to be a cold wet night out looking for SI boxes spread about the Peak District: a.k.a. Dark Mountains. Partnering up with Braddan Johnson, who took part in the original event (see here for accounts), he told me the only survivors of the event to get around almost without exception wore this jacket. Whilst everybody else struggled with the conditions and hyperthermia the Valez wearers shrugged it off and cracked on. My reservation over the jacket was the sheer weight of it – my other waterproof weighs a little over 100g so 585g and multiple layers of fabric seemed a bit extreme. I was also concerned about it ‘wetting out’ and just becoming a heavy sodden lump on me if I’m out in a sustained downpour. A quick exchange with Joe Faulkner of Nav4 sealed the deal as a recommendation from Joe on kit is the best I know of.

Why buy it when I have a perfectly good waterproof jacket in the fab Montane Minimus Smock? Well it’s all about cold weather and extreme rain (something of a good purchase given the 2014 weather so far). Wear this jacket to run in at more than 5 degrees and you’re gonna get hot, there is plenty of ventilation with two huge zips at the front of the jacket, but if it’s pouring with rain that kinda defies the point. It is the perfect jacket for biking though and thus I can see why it’s the number one choice for adventure racers (Joe assures me it is also very comfortable to sleep in :))

Having tried and relied upon various fabrics over the years I’ve found that the membrane layered systems such as GoreTex don’t really shift the sweat fast enough. Great for walking, but moving swiftly across a mountain side and I find myself wet through… still warm, but wet through. My experience so far with the Paramo is that it shifts the sweat much quicker or at least appears to. It’s far more comfortable as a result and given the warmth of the garment even if I were to get a little wet I don’t fear a sudden chill down like I do in other jackets.

In the field I wore it for the Tour De Helvellyn 2013. The forecast was 70-90 mph winds and persistent rain. In the end I’d say it was 50 gusting to 70 and I had about 20 minutes of rain, so not the extensive test I was consoling myself I would get for entering such a race, but a test all the same. The forecast for the temperature was to feel like -14, I’ve no idea what it actually got to, but I wore a single short sleeved compression style skin top underneath and a pair of shorts for the race. I was toasty all the way around. I got a sweat on going up Sticks pass which I could feel on my arms and I felt a little wet in the jacket (arms only), but 5 minutes after reaching the top I felt totally dry again. In previous jackets I’d have been soaked to the skin way before Sticks through sweat; in short, very impressed at the breathe-ability.

In the rain the jacket more than stood up to the elements and didn’t wet out. Not the best test though as the rain whilst heavy only lasted ~20 minutes. Enough to give me confidence in the jacket though. I’ll update this once I’ve had a nice 8 hour down pour in it!

Hood – I find the hood is spacious but can be pulled tight easily enough, it also doesn’t flap in the wind which is one of the things that really gets my goat as you’re not only battling the wind, but also being strangled too, so very happy with that side of things. The zip on the front comes half way down and provides plenty of ventilation in addition to two half zips which come up from the bottom on either side. Obviously for venting and they are two way, but I can’t see why I’d ever unzip from the bottom… a slightly odd system. To top it off it has an enormous kangaroo pocket which is very handy but…

The pocket does get wet as moisture is transferred from the layer against the skin and tries to escape via the pocket it obviously cools and makes for a damp pocket. This is no different to any other jacket, but it is a little disappointing of course.

Temperature, only really for cold outings, It’s a perfect cycling jacket, but running in it means it’s only really suitable for cold outings, but I have my minimus smock for the warmer ones, so for me this jacket complements the minimus to make up my arsenal. If the temperature has a minus sign then it’s the valez, otherwise it’s the minimus.

Cuffs – in order for you to be able to tighten your cuffs with your teeth they are reversed, frankly I find this a real pain. If you are left handed I’m sure it’s a boon, but I just find it really awkward and if I had a magic wand (or the ear of Paramo) I’d change these to be a standard cuff.

Price – Retail it’s £190, but a quick google comes up with £165 or hit ebay paramoseconds or paramoextras for a bargain. I paid £125 as the jacket had been used once for a photo shoot then back to the factory for a re-proof; i.e., it was like new.

If you’re doing something cold, adventure race or bike a lot in winter then this is the right tool for the job.

X-Bionic Running Shorts

For quite some time I’ve been interesting in trying out some of the kit from this top end manufacturer, but haven’t been able to convince myself to part with the cash when I know there are other products that work for me but are half the price. X-bionic make a huge number of claims about their products, each one takes half an hour to read about the patents and there is more marketing jargon than any other product I come across. The big question for me was whether it actually worked.

Following the chaffing issues I had on the L100 I knew I had to do something. Sweat had become a real issue. I already used Kinesio tape on my “bikini line” to avoid chafing and would religiously apply if I was doing anything over 20 miles. I also wear skins shorts which I find really good, but they do get wet and don’t shed the water particularly well. Combine that with a standard pair of cotton pants and the chaffing was brutal.

Chatting with Simon Robinson (X-Bionic Rep for UK) post L100 resulted in a generous offer of an ex-demo pair to try out. All I can say is that I now look for x-bionic offers everywhere I go! The shorts themselves are without doubt the most comfortable shorts I have ever worn. They are just like my skins in as much as they stop just short of the knee and whilst they don’t offer as much compression as the skins (probably because I have a large rather than medium pair) they seem to keep the muscles in place very well.

So to the sweat test. Ok, if you’re expecting miracles from all the patents then you’ll be disappointed, at the end of the day whatever you wear will need to absorb the moisture before releasing it so it will still feel wet to the touch on the outside, but the crucial fact is I don’t bother to tape up any more as all chaffing issues have gone. Naturally I need to test them in hotter conditions like we had on the L100, but I’m totally confident that there isn’t a more effective product out there. So yes they cost £70, but a pair will last a very long time and in ultras the right kit is the right kit! I know I’d have paid £70 not to be chaffing where the sun don’t shine. I have also combined the shorts with the start fitness own brand sports briefs. Since rocking this combination I’ve completely eliminated the issue. Thus in my acid test of gear; i.e., would I buy another pair if I lost/ wore them out? The answer is yes, in a heartbeat!

X-Bionic Energiser 2 Long sleeve

I purchased this at 30% off as a replacement for my ever ageing (7 years and counting) icebreaker tops I use when it’s really cold. To be fair to my icebreakers they have been used and abused as I lived in them for a year whilst travelling and have worn them to death ever since. They can get heavy though when I’m working hard as they do hold the moisture. The Energiser has all the sweat traps, air conditioning channels, 3D Bionic Sphere chest, etc. it’s rated as warm and boy does it perform. It’s got excellent compression, comfort and everything is articulated and supported where it needs to be. It is sooooooooooo comfortable I just feel ready for action once I’ve got it on.

Initially I doubted how warm it would be, but I found myself ditching my windstopper smock within minutes of starting out. I then feared I’d get too hot, but again once at temperature it appeared to manage it very well indeed. With the garment being so figure hugging there is nowhere to hid in it, but it also feels like an extension of your skin so it’s my go to warm layer. I’ve also picked up a bargain on sports pursuit for a short sleeve top and again it’ll be my go to ultra top – I wore it under my paramo for the TdH along with my sample shorts and that was it. Despite the extreme weather I always felt super comfortable and like my temperature was being managed by the garments.

X-Bionic in general

Would I pay full price? Yes. Am I a convert to X-Bionic? Yes. Do I think some of their garments are bonkers? Yes. In terms of durability and overall value for money I think it is high despite the price tag. They are comparable in price to a merino top; e.g., icebreakers and they offer so much more than a standard compression top. The products are backed by a 2 year guarantee and in my experience when gear just works then it’s worth the price tag. Keep eyes peeled for web bargains, bite the bullet and buy them, you won’t regret it.

DryMax socks

Whilst training for the Bob Graham I ran into a real problem. Frozen feet. When your feet have no feeling it reduces your speed and drastically increases the chance of injury. Fell and mountain running your feet get wet, there are no two ways about it and in winter it can be excruciating. Until now I’ve used Seal Skins to counter this issue and whilst they don’t keep your feet dry they do keep them warm. Enter DryMax socks. Sam Robson provides a more extensive review here if you want the details. Essentially they work by using that fibres that don’t absorb water so whilst your feet still get wet, they dry out quickly and with the winter socks, they are nice and thick to ensure warmth. I wouldn’t go back to Seal skins now, if it’s cold and wet then I reach for the DryMax.